Final

Series (Game 2 of 3)

Series starts 1/18

Game 1: Saturday, January 18th
Bulls101Final
2OT
Heat102
Game 2: Saturday, February 22nd
Bulls90Final
Heat100
Game 3: Wednesday, March 26th
Heat74Final
Bulls82

Bulls 90

(19-38, 3-29 away)

Heat 100

(19-36, 12-15 home)

8:00 PM ET, February 22, 2003

AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL

1 2 3 4 T
CHI 19 25 11 3590
MIA 19 24 24 33100

Top Performers

Chicago: E. Curry 26 Pts, 9 Reb, 1 Blk

Miami: E. Jones 23 Pts, 6 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl

Heat missing a Butler, but Jones' return enough

MIAMI (AP) -- Eddie Jones returned to the Miami Heat on Saturday night after four games and one quarter.

Jones, who missed Miami's recent 1-3 road trip because of a strained left groin, scored 23 points to help the Heat snap a three-game losing streak with a 100-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

"I knew it would be a slow pace for me at the start,'' said Jones, who had his fourth consecutive 20-point performance despite not scoring until hitting a 3-pointer with 7:20 left in the second quarter. "After a week off, you're not the same player you normally are.''

Jalen Rose scored 31 points before fouling out with 1:56 remaining and reserve center Eddy Curry added a career-high 26 for the Bulls, who fell to 3-29 on the road.

After Miami built a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Chicago used a 15-4 run to pull within 89-83 with three minutes to go.

Malik Allen then hit a foul-line jumper and two free throws to give the Heat a 10-point lead with 2:29 left. Chicago failed to get closer after that.

"From a team aspect, this was a need game,'' said Allen, who finished with 22 points. "We just went 1-3 on the road, with two tough losses. We wanted to come back and get one at home.''

Travis Best added 21 for Miami, which also got 12 points and 12 rebounds from Brian Grant. It was the second time this season Miami had three 20-point scorers.

"Sometimes, I think the coaches think Malik is better than Malik thinks he is,'' Heat coach Pat Riley said. "He made some big shots for us in the fourth quarter when we really needed him.''

Miami played without forward Caron Butler, who earlier in the day was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.

The Heat, who tied a season-high with 24 second-chance points, have beaten Chicago five consecutive times and in nine of the past 11 meetings. Miami committed just six turnovers.

Jones scored 10 points in the third quarter, when Miami used a 24-8 run to build a 12-point lead. He then hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth to widen the Heat's lead to 72-55.

Rose and Curry each had 17 points in the first half to help Chicago take a 44-43 halftime edge.

"I didn't like the way we started, but I liked the way we recovered in the first half,'' Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. "I thought our guys were active. I thought we did a lot of good thing, we got Eddy Curry involved. It was good to see him out there and score some buckets and get some time on the floor.''

Rose scored 12 points during the first quarter, which ended tied at 19.

"The thing about the NBA is that you have to be prepared to compete in 82 games. Right now we need 12 guys to do that,'' Rose said. "We might get guys to play good for a quarter and half, but eventually that catches up with you.''

Game notes


A Heat spokesman said Butler, the league's top rookie scorer (14.1 ppg), would remain hospitalized overnight. ... Curry, who was drafted directly out of high school in 2001, previously had a high of 19 points. ... Chicago had just 10 assists. ... The Bulls entered the game averaging 93.5 ppg, their highest total since 96.7 in 1997-98. ... Jones missed a third-quarter free throw to snap a string of 25 foul shots made. ... Riley, who earlier this season had a confrontation with Indiana's Ron Artest, got a friendly pat on the back from Jalen Rose while the Heat coach was talking to referee Bennett Salvatore during a stoppage in play. Riley offered no reaction.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

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Team Stat Comparison

 
CHI
MIA
Points 90 100
FGM-FGA 33-75 (.440) 36-86 (.419)
3PM-3PA 1-6 (.167) 5-16 (.313)
FTM-FTA 23-39 (.590) 23-26 (.885)
Rebounds (Offensive-Total) 10-42 12-43
Assists 10 17
Turnovers 12 6
Steals 3 8
Blocks 4 5
Fast Break Points 0 3
Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) 26 (2/0) 26 (2/1)

Top Performers

Chicago
Miami
Eddy Curry Curry
Points: 26
Reb: 9
Ast: 0
Stl: 0
Blk: 1
Eddie Jones Jones
Points: 23
Reb: 6
Ast: 3
Stl: 1
Blk: 0